How to Pick a Medical Assistant School Program near Brockway Pennsylvania
Now that you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Brockway PA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? A number of potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. You may want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have furnished several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Role of a Medical Assistant
The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their job is to make sure that the Brockway PA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many duties of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and filing claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Brockway PA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Classes
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent option for students who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized as well. But bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be carried out in Brockway PA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training may be the ideal choice for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting a position after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Brockway PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you must choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Brockway PA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must look at when researching schools. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several great reasons to make certain that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Brockway PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to choose a program focused on that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, verify that the colleges you are looking at provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Brockway PA area medical care providers. They are a great way to get hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students build relationships within the Brockway medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Provided? Finding that first job may be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Brockway PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the school you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Brockway PA, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Brockway Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Brockway PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Brockway, Pennsylvania
Brockway is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,182 at the 2000 census. It was originally named Brockwayville, for the pioneer Brockway family. It was later shortened to Brockway.
Brockway was originally called Brockwayville, and under the latter name was founded in laid out in 1836.[3] The borough was named for Alonzo and James S. Brockway, who came to the site in 1822.[3] A post office called Brockwayville was established in 1829, and the name of the post office was changed to Brockway in 1925.[4]
Brockway Glass Company Inc. was founded in 1907 in Brockway, Pennsylvania by the Brockway Machine Bottle Company (which later became Brockway Glass). Brockway manufactured and sold glass containers and tubing, along with plastic products manufactured through wholly owned subsidiaries. In 1964 Brockway bought several Hazel-Atlas Glass Company factories from the Continental Can Company as part of a lawsuit settlement. In 1987 Owens-Illinois made a bid of $60 per share (worth $750million) to acquire Brockway, which was met with resistance by the FTC. After a Federal District Judge denied the FTC's request for an injunction, Owens-Illinois acquired Brockway's shares.
Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Program Brockway PA
It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Clinical Medical Assistant Schools. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Brockway PA.
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